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Monday, November 24, 2008

In an article Monday headlined "American band releases album venomously attacking China," the Global Times said unidentified Chinese Internet users had described the album as part of a plot by some in the West to "grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn."

The album "turns its spear point on China," the article said.

To be fair, though, that's not amongst the worst reviews the record has had.

Surprisingly, given the Chinese authorities have had nearly two decades to prepare for the release of the record, you'd think they'd have something better lined up for a response:

China's Foreign Ministry did not respond to faxed questions about the article, although a spokesman speaking on routine condition of anonymity said: "We don't need to comment on that."

Spokesmen for the Culture Ministry and State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, government bodies that regulate album releases and performances, could not be reached for comment.

We're given to understand the American embassy in Beijing has briefed the Pentagon that top-ranking Chinese are too busy trying to work out a way to participate in the free Dr Pepper programme to release a formal statement on the record.

It's not only the Chinese who are angry that Guns N Roses' Chinese Democracy is reflecting badly on them. The NRA has called a press conference to remind Americans that guns aren't actually such cranky, temperamental things as the band would suggest, while Bob Flowerdew was seen in his garden, sobbing, as he pruned the last of his Rosa Black Magic.